Director, Legal Commercial Operations (U.S.) (Regulatory Focus)

THE ROLE

Circle K operates at the intersection of fuel, environmental law, age‑restricted consumer products, and food & beverage—a complex regulatory environment involving layered federal, state, and local regimes with enforcement exposure. Regulators may include the EPA, state EPA equivalents, FTC, FDA, USDA, ATF/TTB, state Alcoholic Beverage Control agencies, state lottery agencies, state Attorneys General, and weights & measures authorities. This role ensures environmental considerations and regulatory risks are proactively identified, managed, and integrated into business decision‑making and the supporting body of contracts.

Reporting to the Head, Legal Commercial Operations (U.S.), the Director, Legal Commercial Operations (U.S.) sets U.S. legal regulatory strategy, interprets complex and overlapping legal requirements, and serves as the interface with regulators and enforcement authorities. The position is critical to protecting the company’s license to operate while enabling growth across fuel, age‑restricted products, and food.

The successful candidate will get to make their mark as they assist in the building of the U.S. commercial law function, becoming an elite member of a team designed to be the go-to legal partner to a dynamic group of business stakeholders.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Act as the strategic legal regulatory and compliance advisor to the Fuel, Environmental, Transportation, Merchandising, and Marketing business functions in their efforts to comply with regulatory requirements.
• Ensure the embedding of regulatory compliance considerations into contracts, operational processes, product launches, promotions, pricing strategies.
• Negotiate strategic agreements for Fuel, Environmental, and Transportation functions.
• Manage junior attorneys on their support of day-to-day contracting needs of the functions.
• Own regulatory interpretation and policy setting for the U.S. business; translate regulatory requirements into clear, actionable internal standards.
• Monitor regulatory developments and enforcement trends, including new and emerging regulatory areas; proactively brief leadership on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Lead regulatory incident response, investigations, and remediation efforts.
• Interface with regulators, inspectors, and enforcement agencies.
• Prepare and oversee regulatory filings, disclosures, and responses.
• Strategically manage outside counsel and consultants to control cost while mitigating legal and regulatory risk.
• Ensure consistent regulatory positions and effective coordination across jurisdictions.
• Act as an educator to the business on how to have a regulatory mindset and provide trainings on key regulatory topics, including anti-trust and anti-corruption.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• JD or equivalent from an accredited institution and admission to at least one US state bar
• 10+ years of experience, with a minimum of 7 years leading teams and/or functions (in-house and law firm)
• Deep regulatory background in one or more of the following fields: energy/fuel, grocery or convenience retail, environmental compliance, or highly regulated consumer products.

• Demonstrated experience advising senior executives and influencing business decisions in complex regulatory environments.
• Strong judgment, executive presence, and the ability to operate independently at a senior level.
• Experience interfacing with regulators and managing audits and enforcement actions.
• Pragmatic, business‑oriented legal advisor with a strong risk‑based mindset.
• Collaborative partner who can drive alignment across legal, compliance, and operational teams.
• Comfortable advising on a broad and shifting array of retail legal issues, including the enthusiasm to counsel on new and trending areas of law and regulation.
• Ability to work comfortably while processes and systems are being established.
• Collaborative spirit with a sense of humor.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK HERE:

Our job openings in stores and offices allow you to grow quickly within a global company, while benefiting from a dynamic work environment that puts people first. Wherever you are in your journey, we have a place for you. Here are some of the attractive benefits we offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Complete benefits packages (medical, dental, deferred compensation plan, employee stock plan, etc.).
• People Perks which allows for great discounts on food and fuel.
• Vacation / PTO time
• Work in a collaborative, dynamic and high performing team.
• Work for a leading, innovative, and growing company in convenience stores operations.
• Fortune 500 company and a 5-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner.
• Tuition reimbursement of $5,000 per year.
• Learning opportunities to develop new skills and to evolve professionally in a fast-growing company.

INTERESTED?

Circle K is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Company complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) and all state and local disability laws. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the ADA and certain state or local laws as long as it does not impose an undue hardship on the Company. Please inform the Company’s Human Resources Representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Click below to review information about our company's use of the federal E-Verify program to check work eligibility:

In English

In Spanish